C.F. Martin & Co. has been creating the finest instruments in the world for 183 years.The company, founded in the U.S. has been continuously family owned and operated for six generations. Currently headed by Chairman and CEO Christian Frederick Martin IV, the company has been handed down five times since it was started by German immigrant Christian Frederick Martin Sr. in 1833. It continues to innovate, introducing techniques and features that have become industry standards, including X-bracing, the 14-fret guitar and the “Dreadnought” size. One of the world’s leading acoustic instrument makers, Martin guitars are hand-made by skilled craftsmen and women, who use a combination of new design and techniques, along with those introduced by the company founder. Martin guitars and Martin strings are the instruments and strings of choice for musicians around the world, from the icons of rock, pop, country, folk and bluegrass to those just beginning their careers. The list of Martin players, past and present, reads like a Who's Who of the musical world and includes such legends as Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, John Mayer and countless others.

The company is also known for producing high-quality, popular acoustic guitar strings and they have been making their own strings since 1970. These include the successful Martin SP® Lifespan® the fastest-growing long-life string in the industry, the exciting new Retro Strings line played and loved by Tony Rice and Laurence Juber and the Martin SP Acoustic and SP Flexible Core lines, which use an industry leading core wire to hold tunings better.